Nothing like skating on the best real estate in the NHL in only your 9th ever NHL game to ratchet up expectations. Enough that some question if MJ90 should even be in the NHL. The answer is: of course he should. How else will the Caps know what moves to make in April?

And make no mistake, they will have to make a move because even with all the patience in the world, MJ90 is probably not the answer for the second pivot slot this year. And that’s OK. Tomas Fleischmann, who was recently benched asked to take his turn sitting out, isn’t either. Neither is Matheiu Perreault (sorry Nicci), Cody Eakin (again, sorry Nicci) or anyone else currently in the Caps organization. Patience (tålamod), not rash thinking, is what’s important.

Tough to get your hopes up that a deadline deal – without giving up something major in return – is just a phone call away. Maybe that’s why GMGM felt compelled to let it be known if another general manager called about Semyon Varlamov, Michal Neuvirth or Braden Holtby his response would be, “We’re not trading any of them.”

The deals made in April will be critical, so having a little patience with MJ90 will go a long way in making sure that when a deal is made, it’s the absolute right one for the Cup run.